Historic building - Temples - Museum - Top sights
Silom & Sathorn
With Surawong Rd. (north) and Sathorn Rd. (south) running parallel to Silom Rd. this is Bangkok's business district where most banks, insurance companies, airline offices and international firms are headquartered.
As well we include the hotels along the Chao Praya River this area.
So named for Silom Rd. that runs through its centre, the area forms a
triangle with the Chao Praya River (& Charoen Krung Rd.) on the eastern
side and Sathorn Rd. (North and South) and on the south to Lumphini Park
where it meets with Rama IV Rd.
Silom has a nice neighbourhood feel to it with lots of small restaurants
and pubs.
Hotels in the Silom area are generally smaller one off boutique style prosperities that are locally owned and managed.
Although perhaps not having all the facilities of an international brand name property, these hotels offer guestrooms and services that are comparable to a 3-5 star hotel.
Ideal for business travelers and leisure visitors to tour nearby Chinatown and temples while hotels along the river are the large international chain properties justly famous for luxurious accommodation and magnificent settings.
Lumpini Park
located in the heart of the city, this
expansive area is a nice escape from the city madness. Early morning in
the park, you will find
hundreds of residents out for their morning
yoga, tai chi or jog. There are a number of Thai restaurants and boats
are available for hire for a peaceful cruise on the lake in the heart of
the park, (Lumphini Metro station).
A huge green oasis right in the middle of the capital city of Thailand. Perfect if you get bored with cars and crowded streets. Well managed green areas around a sea where you actually can take a tour in a rowing boat. Many Bangkok citizens perform their morning gymnastics as Tai Chi, strength training or jogging etc. here.
A rare expanse of public greenery in the heart of the city, it was once property of King Rama VI, who issued a royal command to turn the area into a public park as a gift to Bangkok's residents. The park's symbol, a statue of its creator Rama VI, stands at the main entrance at the southwestern corner, right opposite MRT Si Lom station.
You will find Lumphini Park next to Rama IV Road and Ratchadamri Road (between Rama IV, Ratchadamri, Wireless (Wittayu) and Sarasin Rds).
Opening Hours: Office Mon-Fri 8.00 am - 4.00 pm, Closed: Sat, Sun and Public Holiday, Park: Daily 4.30 am - 8.00 pm
Admission Fee: Free
Suan Lum Night bazaar
Suan Lum Night Bazaar (Subway Lumphini) is a less chaotic option offering much the same fare and then some, including alot of artsy pieces that might actually look good back home. The quality of goods and displays are generally higher than Chatuchak Weekend Market, but so are the prices. However, the stalls are modern, thoroughfares are wider, and there are many good dining options here (see Eat).
A money changer and ATM is located right in the middle of the market area, but it closes two hours earlier than the rest of the market does. The bazaar is open nightly until midnight.
Note: The market is presently under threat of demolition (Still open as of July 09). Check locally.
King Rama VI statue
Located in front of Lumphini Park, the statue was sculpted by Professor Corado Feroci, or Silpa Bhirasri as he was called by his Thai name, who gave it a final touch on 7 June, 1941. It was open on 27 March, 1942.
Open: Daily,
Admission: Free
Patpong shopping
The Patpong night market features all the usual Asian knock-offs and assorted tourist goods. Prices are considerably inflated compared to most any other market so be prepared to fight for a bargain.
Despite being one of Bangkok’s original red light districts, Patpong attracts loads of tourists to its market with its vast array of fake designer goods and prices that are hard to beat.
The goods are of decent quality and most people will probably only realise their lacking authenticity on close inspection.
It’s an excuse for the more curious to pop in on the go go bars and ‘ping pong sex shows’ upstairs, most leave them disappointed by the boring shows and expensive beer. Bargaining very hard is essential to get a good deal and the touts for the go-go bars that Patpong is most famous for are persistent, annoying and can be aggressive.
Patpong is between Silom and Surawong roads, and any taxi driver will know it.
Open daily: 6.00 pm - 1.00 am
Patpong Bars & Pubs
For a quiet game of pool and a beer or two there's the Red Parrot and the Vietnam war era bar, The Old Other Office. Finally, for audio stimulation there's Soi 1's Radio City, Lucifer's and the stylish late-night dance bar Twilight, which is typically heaving come midnight. Whatever you're into, Patpong is certainly worth a peek.
Silom Complex
Silom Complex (Silom Rd, connected to BTS Sala Daeng) is Silom's largest mall. A bit quiet, but the restaurants and TOPS supermarket in the basement aren't bad. Central (department store) is at the rear of the complex and is accessible at every level of the complex. The top floor of Silom Complex has a large electrical goods retailer and a well-stocked office supplies retailer.
Location: Silom & Sathorn
Snake Farm
Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (Snake Farm) Located near
Chulalongkorn Hospital on the corner of Henri Dunant Road and Rama IV
Road, this institute contains a collection of poisonous snakes which are
“milked” daily for their venom in order to produce invaluable anti-snakebite
serum.
Open: Mon–Fri from 8.30 a.m.to 4.30 p.m.; Sat, Sun and Public Holidays from8.30 a.m. to 12 noon.
Venom extraction: Mon-Fri at 11 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.; holidays at 11 a.m.
Slide presentation in English: Mon-Fri at 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; holidays at 10.30 a.m. (30 minutes before venom) extraction.
Admission: Adult 200 baht; Child 50 baht
Muay Thai - Thaiboxing
The national sport of Thailand. You should absolutely not miss it if you
enjoy action sports!
Lumpini Stadium is located on
Rama IV Road (Subway Lumphini).
Matches on Tuesdays and Fridays, starting at 6.30 pm and Saturdays, starting at 5.00 pm.
Foreigners pay 2000/1500/1000 baht for ringside/near ring/tiered seating, while Thais can squeeze in for 230 baht.
Thai Puppet Theatre
The Traditional Thai Puppet Theatre Company has performances each night from 19.30-20.45 in their theatre located in the midst of the Suan Lum Night Bazaar (Subway Lumphini). Admission is 300 baht for a regular seat and a little more for a V.I.P. seat, but there is not much difference between the two, and you can get a regular seat in the front if you buy your ticket early. The show is in Thai with translations into English, and there is a segment where the puppets interact with audience members that is popular with children.
Silom
Village
Silom Village. Silom 21/1. A touristy theme market, but still a good place to look for handbags and furniture. Be mindful that many items are fakes.
Jim Thompson shop
Jim Thompson. 9 Surawong Road (walk through Soi Thaniya from BTS Sala Daeng), 2632-8100. The flagship store of the famous Thai silk brand, offering well-designed pieces of high quality at equally high prices. Spread on four floors, unlike the small hotel shops this store offers the full range of Thompson's products, including lengths of raw silk.
Thaniya Plaza
Thaniya Center / Thaniya Plaza (Silom Road, connected to BTS Sala Daeng) are two connecting malls which run along Soi Thaniya, a street which is populated predominantly by Japanese restaurants and hostess bars. The Thaniya Plaza consists almost exclusively of golf equipment shops (except for a few Japanese restaurants) and the Thaniya Center also has its share of golf shops, as well as a few other tourist-oriented outlets.
Rattanakosin - Riverside - Chinatown - Sukhumvit - Silom & Sathorn - Pathumwan - Ratchadaphisek - Phahonyothin - Around Bangkok